According to data from the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the first three weeks of July have been the warmest three-week period on record. These temperatures have been related to heatwaves in large parts of North America, Asia and Europe, which along with wildfires in countries including Canada and Greece, have had major impacts on people's health, the environment and economies.

Chris Hewitt, director of Climate Services at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), described conditions in July as "remarkable and unprecedented" and urged action on climate shock adaptation.

"We would need to adapt to those heatwaves to take care of vulnerable societies or whatever it might be, the environment. So yes, there's a need to adapt to increases in temperature. And then... there are other extremes as well, extreme flooding, droughts, windstorms," Hewitt said.

The scientists have also urged governments and individuals to take action to protect vulnerable populations from heatwaves. Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), said that such measures are necessary and feasible.

Residents in Spain are growing concerned as the country is currently in the grip of a dangerous heatwave, with temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius soaring towards record-breaking levels.The southern cities of Jaen and Cordoba are expected to see sizzling daytime temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius, while even the capital Madrid is also experiencing temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

Residents in the Polish capital Warsaw are exploring ways to cool themselves down as a heatwave has scorched the country for several days, with the highest temperature reaching 35 degrees Celsius.

Egypt is experiencing unprecedented high temperatures that exceed 45 degrees Celsius, which has taken a toll on the country's people and agriculture. Though July and August are usually the hottest months of the year, Egypt's Meteorological Authority said the temperatures have gone up this time to a level not seen for 127 years. People are feeling the brunt of the heatwave in their daily lives.

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